The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-02
THE PROHIBITION ORATORS
ClosiIg Sessions of the Meeting of the
National Prohibition Conference.
General Clinton B. Fiske Eioquently Pleads
for overthrow of the Liquor Traffic and
St John Discusses Old Party Evils.

the burden Of the speeches st Battery D, this
morning. The second days session of the Pro-
hibitiou national conference was expected TO
be q long one. and therefore o'clock was the
hour set for the opening. The business of the ma
tional committee was not all transacted, and the
executive session was continued at o'clock this
morning The principal subject under discus
sion the appointment of delegates to the
nominating convention. A resolution was
passed .'that the represen tation in the national
convention Of 1888 shall be on the basis of twice
AZ many delegates from each State and Terri
tory there representatives in Congress.
These delegates to be elected by such methods
as may bs decided upon by the State com
mttees."
The entire day was taken ND with discussion
of the various topics prepared for the confer
encs The only incident OF general interest
which took place when heated discussion
took place between Mr. Chaplin. of Wisconsin,
and the national committee the question OF
the representation at the national convention
next June. II was finally agreed that the fol-
lowing proposition should be referred to the ma
&ional committee:
"That the basis of representation be one from
each congressional district and one for each four
hundred voters"
When taken up in secret session by the COM
rittee. the Chaplin proposition was rejected and
the order remains as at first adopted Mr.
Chaplin nevertheless threatens to make effort
TO have the rank and file OF the Prohibitionits
unite aud elect their delegates for the coming
convention upon the basis suggested by him and
Endorsed by the conference to-day. Mr.. Chapin's
idea is that the delegates thus elected should
contest the seats of the present officials when
the national convention of the Prohibition party
Assem- bes at indianapolis.
The conference of the national Prohibition
committee was brought TO a close tonight by
grand mass meeting at Battery d. The great
hall was comfortably filled, and the utmost
tbusiasm prevailed. Mr.. J. B. Hobbs. who
ran for the governorship of Illinois the Pro-
hibition ticket, presided. The speakers were
General Clinton B. Fiske, of New Jersey; Mrs.
Mary T. Lathrop, aud ex Governor St. John, OF
Kansas. General Fiske the first speaker,
and on being introduced said, in part:
zone great question is uppermost in the
mind of every tffepehtful Pronibitionst: How
can hasten the dav, of the utter overthrow of
the liquor traffic ir this goodly land OF oursY We
believe that cousummation devoutly to be
wished is among the good things in store for us.
Some of Us are growing imnatient at the slow
progress are making toward that day of tri-
umph We wonder why every good
man and woman is not in battle array with
ms against the forces of evil ALWAYS in
advancing
and righteousness. Every careful student of
the situation discovers that now as never before
there is a murmur and stir in every city. town
and hamlet in the country this vital
question. In conference and convention In
ligious and political conversations, at homo by
the hresIde, every banquet. 1t pops up by our
side. It will not down till 'Birnam wood do come
90 Dnusinane-' Meantime the saloon sits su-
preme in the politics of the country, governing
in caucus, convention and canvass. Seventy
per cent of the primaries in both OF the domi-
rali% al m
saloons or cross-road taverns. In the great
cities OF the land whore now dwell more than
Is, 900 OF people. the saloon Is the
chief inspiration in politics Its mastery
over great States is appalling. How shall we
dethrone king rum and restore the government
TO the people, by the people and for the peopleF
How ehall We rouse the public conscience which
now sleeps and shores under the lullaby of
'loyaltv partvP How snail the Christian
pulpit be marshaled in force against it's chiefess
foef These the solemn questions of the hour;
can they be practically answed by either the
Democratic or Republican partyf Nav, verify.
Democracy stands M sauarely and boldly, and
says: We for liquor every time. We will
have nothing do with your prohibition. We
arc AGAINST all sumptuary laws. We rather like
che Prohibitionists to keep ND good strong
party organization, because know they
make larger drafts upon the Republicans
than they do upon v,, as , IN most ,ns
cranks cleverIy in all latitudes where they
weaken the old party OF moral ideas, but where
they hurtus by drawing too heavily on our pous
Democrats in the rural districts. there we must
poupce upon the fanatics and drive them out
The Republican party saws: We can't do it just
good readyF We know that in ranks
the best men of the country, and we want to be
sufficiently ourepokeD against the saloon to re-
tain them, and not sufficiently outspoken 10
,lienate the saloon interests The Chicago
Tribune saws: Don't YOU forget that majority
of the beer-sellers in the country Republic
ans and must not take such action as to
drive them awav from Us; let our anti-saloon
Republicans understand that we say this with
emphasis.' And what was the result OF such
TALK Why, the father Of the anti-saloon
movement packed M his carpot-bse
and moved to New York. taking his poor little
anti-annex along with him, and then demon
strated that the movement WAS like SQUAD
the largest when it was first patched Had the
Republican party taken up this issue boldly,
and taken such position as TO have driven the
liquor interest from Its ranks. il would have
stopped the exodus of the best element in tho
party, called hack those who had rehelled against
longer submission TO saloon dictation, drawn
the conscience from the Democratic ranks and
would now have been waving it's banners in tri-
umph over both ends of Pennsylvania avenue.
The men who sat in the drivers seat would not
take the 'riebt-hand road to victory. bat chose
the left hand path, which led to defeat and hu-
initiation. When the Republican national com
1nittea, in this city. in 1885, slammed the door
IN the face of Frances E. Willard and said:
we like you, but you know we are bound hand
and foot Herman Raster and We dare not
break the shackles that manacle as, that
hour its fortunes began TO wane, and it's thought
fui constituents have been steadily moving into
other quarters where the prohibition OF the
liquor traffic is made an allcontroling force in
politics until there shat. be legazed dram
shop where floats the stars and stripes; until in
all irs places Of power, municipal. county, State
and Nation, shall be who will protect the
poor succor the laborer, guard the home, and
smite to death the system prolific of disease,
vice, wretchedness, poverty. degradation. sor-
row and murder. There is safety in any
compromise with the monstrous wrong. We
must destroy 1t. No system OF license or regu-
lstion, taxation restriction will avail
prah has Init
edy and that is prohibition half mill
ion men are to-day ready to march TO
the polls to emphasize their opinions with
prohibition ballots. Another half million are
almost persuaded to with and help
do good. A million of women-God bless themi
ARE marching by sides with prayer and
faith song and speech. Oh. would that
might say with ballots also! Victory will come
20 as by and by; be not impatient. In God we